Liquid elevating device



May 23, 1933. A. c. woon 1,910,512

LIQUID ELEVATING DEVICE Filed sept. 25, 1929v 2 sheets-sheet 1 May Z3, 1933.

/\. VVCDCDE) LIQUID ELEVATING DEVICE Filed Sept. 25, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 23, 1933 OFFICE ANDREW C. WOOD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS LIQUID ELEVATING DEVICE Application filed September 25, 1929. Serial No. 395,055.

My invention belongs to the general class of devices for elevating or conveying liquids and more particularly to an apparatus for conveying or supplying fluid to meet a re quired demand. The same is particularly adapted for drawing gasoline or like fluids from a supply tank and supplying the same to the carburetor ofka combustion engine as required, but may also be used wherever found applicable. I

My invention has among its objects the production of a simple,co1npact, inexpensive, reliable, elricientand satisfactory device of the kind described. It has particularly as an object the production of a pump suitable for elevating liquids, the pump being automatically rendered operative or inoperative, or its action varied depending upon the amount of liquid required to meet the demand. It has particularly as an object the production of a device of the kind described that is free of complicated parts and which does not require line adjustment.

A feature of my invention is that it comprises a pump for elevating liquid into a receptacle, the reciprocation of the plunger of the pump being automatically controlled by the liquid level within the receptacle so that a varied pumping action or no pumping actionwill occur according to the quantity of liquid in the receptacle.

' Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the'disclosure herein given.

To this end my invention consists in thc novel construction, arrangement and combination` of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In theV drawings, wherein 'like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view of a device embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 g

Fig. 3 'is a sectional view taken substantially on the line B3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view, similar to Fig. 1, through a casing containing apparatus embodying another form of my invention, such apparatus being shown in elevation;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the. line 5 5 of Fig. Ll; and y y Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. Ll., and showing still another embodiment of my invention.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, the numeral 10 indicates a tank or casing which may be made of any suitable material, such as brass, galvanized iron, tin or the like. Vhile the tank 10 is shown as rectangular in the drawings, it may be of any suitable shape, size or proportions. The tank has an outlet 11 and comprises side and bottom walls which are preferably rigidly secured together and a removable top wall or cover plate 12 which may be secured to a flange 18 on the upper portion of the side wall by means of screws 14 or other suitable means. The cover 12 preferably makes a Huid-tight connection with the side walls and if necessary, a gasket not shown) may be interposed between the flange 13 and the cover plate.

Secured to the cover plate 12 of the tank is a pumping device comprising a cylindrical member 15 closed at its upper' extremity by means of a circular portion 16. vThis portion is apertured substantially centrally thereof as at 18 for providing communication with a conduit Q0. Secured to the portion 16 within the cylindrical member 15 by means of a nut 22, or the like, is a substantially cylindrical block 23. This block is concentrically disposed within the cylindrical member 15 and is slightly smaller in diameter than the cylindrical member so as to provide an annular space 25 between the Vmember and CTI block. municate with the conduit 2() is an axial duct 27. As clearly shown in Fig. 1, the duct 27 does not extend entirely through the block stopping short of the lower end thereof, and conimunicates with a 'duct 28. As shown in Fig. 1, the duct 28 is disposed approximately radially of the block 23 except that it is slightly inclined to the horizontal so as to be substantially perpendicular to the inner wall 3l of a cavity or recess 3() in the block 23 with which the duct 28 communicates. The wall 31 is inclined outwardly and downwardly, and hinged on this wall so normally to cover the opening of the duct 28 is a flap valve 33.

Formed in the block 23 adjacent the upper end thereof is a cavity or recess 35 which is substantially similar to the cavity 30, having an inner wall 36 inclined downwardly and outwardly on which is hinged a flap valve 37. The .flap valve 37 normally covers the opening of a duct 38 which is arranged substantially similarly to the duct 28. The duct 38 communicates at its inner extremity with a duct 46 which is substantially parallel to the duct 27 and extends to the lower end of the block 23.

Arrange-d around the block 23 is a cylindrical ,asing or sleeve 42 which, `in conjunction with the block 23, comprises, in effect, a relatively fixed piston member. The sleeve 42 extends entirely across the cavity 30, so that this cavity is open only at the lower end thereof, as at 43, but the casing 42 is cut away as at 45 adjacent the cavity 35.

A cylindrical cup-shaped reciprocable member 47 slidably engages the casing 42, an annular space 48 being provided between the side walls of the member 47 and those of the member 15. A bifurcated bracket 49 secured to the cover 12 supports the member' 47 in its lowermost position. Secured to the lower portion of the cup-shaped member 47 is a bracket 5() comprising ears 50a and 505 to which is pivotally connected, as at 51, one end of a lever 52. The lever 52, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, comprises a pair of parallel members 52a., and 525, joined by means of a member 46, and is pivotally connected at its opposite ends as at 54 to one end of a link 53. The link 53 extends through an elongated slot 54 provided in the cover plate 12 of the casing 10, and is pivotally connected at its opposite or upper end to a crank 55 carried by a shaft 56 which is journaled on the top plate 12 as by a suitable bearing 57. It will be understood that the shaft 56 may be connected to a suitable source of power (not shown) as, for example, to a motor, or other suitably movable mea-ns associated with the structure in connection with which the present invention is employed.

Intermediate of the ends of the lever 52, a stud-like member or pintle, such as a screw 60, or the like, extends th rough the two arms Formed in the block 23 so as to com- 52a and 525 of the lever 52 in such a manner as to project outwardly from both arms as shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 3. Secured to the cover plate 12 by any suitable means such as screws, or the like, is a bracket member 61 which extends Idownwardly on the outside of the arm 52a in such a manner that the lower edge thereof is disposed across the upper side of one of the projecting ends of the screw 60. Also secured to the cover plate 12 is a relatively long bracket member 63 which extends downwardly on the outside of the .arm 525 and is provided with a notch 65 therein (see Fig. 1). This notch has a substantially rectangular portion at the top thereofl and slopes obliquely downwardly and the bracket 63 is arranged so that the end of the screw 60 pro-k jecting outwardly from the arm 52?), is normally disposed in the notch 65.

Pivoted adjacent the lower extremity of the bracket 63, as at 66, is a fulcrum member or arm 67 having a rectangular notch 68 adjacent the upper end thereof. Also pivoted at 66 is a bell crank lever 70, to one arm of which is secured as at 7l, one end of a tension helical spring 72, the other end of which is secured to the arm 67 as at 73. The other arm of the bell crank lever 7 0 has secured to it a float member 7 5. This float member 75 may be of cork or any other suitable buoyant material.

The operation of the device just described is substantially as follows: The device will ordinarily be installed in connection with an internal combustion engine with the conduit 20 connected to a suitable fuel supply tank (not shown), and the conduit 11 connected to a suitable carburetor (not shown). The shaft 56 is connected to a moving part of the engine and will rotate in its journal 57 so-as to rotate the crank 55 and reciprocate the link 53. When the tank 10 is empty of liquid, the ioat member 75 will be in substantially the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1. lVhen disposed in such a position, the bell crank lever 70 is arranged with its extermity 71, to which the spring 72 is secured. to the right of the pivot 66 (Fig. 1) and the arm 67 is accordingly urged by the spring 72 in a clockwise direction about its pivot 66. Thus, the rectangular notch 68 at the upper extremity of the arm 67 is brought into engagement with the screw 60 and hence, the lever 52 caused to pivot about this screw as it is rocked by the link 53. The cylindrical member 47 isthus caused to reciprocate and function substantially as a plunger.v On the down stroke of the member 47, a suction is created in the space between the member 47 and the block 23 and the llap valvell is opened. Liquid fuel is thus induced to flow from the fuel tank through the conduit 20 and the ducts 27 and 28 into the cavity 30 and down into the space between the member 47 and. the block 23. On the upward stroke member 80 is a cylindrical member 47 a.

' above.

of the member 47, the pressure against the flap valve causes it to close the port of the duct 28, and the liquid which has been indu ed to {iow by suction into the cup-like member 47 is forced up through the ducts 40 and 38, forcing open the flap valve 37 and causing the liquid to flow out into the cavity 35, through the casing 42 and down between the member 47 and the member 15 into the tank 10.

This operation continues until the liquid within the tank has reached a predetermined level, for which the float 75 has previously been adjusted on the bell crank lever 70. `When this condition has occurred, the float member 75 will have reached a position such as is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. l. The bell crank lever will then have been moved about its pivot 66 by the float 75 until the member 7l has taken a position on the opposite side of the pivot 66, whereupon the lspring 72 will tend to rotate the arm 67 in a c()unter-clockwise direction (Fig. l) and the arm 67 will then take a position substantially as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. l, Where it is retained by the member 46. When this occurs, the member 47 will remain in its lowermost position supported by the bifurcated bracket 49, and the lever 52 will be rocked about its pivot 51, on the bracket 50, by the link 53, without in any way efecting a movement of the member 47.

Hence, the pumping will be discontinued until sufiicient liquid will have flowed out of the tank l() to permit the float 75 to sink to a position wherein it will have moved the bell crank lever to a point where the member 7l will be on the right side of the pivot 66 (Fig. l), whereupon the spring 72 will urge the arm 67 back to its position as shown in full lines in Fig. l, when the notch 68 will be moved into engagement with the stud or screw 60 and the lever 52 will again be rocked about the stud 60 as a pivot. Pumping action will thereupon be resumed and the cycle of opera-tions above described will be continued.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, this embodiment comprises a casing 10a, substantially like the casing 10 of the previous embodiment, and having a cover plate 12a on which is arranged a cylindrical housing 15a for enclosing and supporting a valve supporting member 80 substantially similar to the block 23 shown in detail in Fig. l and described A tubular conduit a secured to the housing 15a by means of a nut 22a, or the like, communicates with the member 80.

Arranged to reciprocate relatively to the The outer wall of said cylindrical` member is spaced from the inner wall of the casing 15a and is adapted to cooperate with the valve member 8O as a plunger in substantially the same manner as the member 47 of the previous embodiment. Secured to the lower portion of the cylindrical member 47a is a bracket 50aj to which is pivotally secured as at 51a one end of a lever 52k having intermediate of its ends a laterally extending pin a. This lever is also pivotally connected as lat 54a to a link 53a which is actuated to impart a rocking motion to the lever 52a in substantially the same manner as thc corresponding parts described above.

Secured to the cover plate 12a within the casing 10a as by means of screws 81, or the like, is an arm or bracket 63a having intermediate of its ends an elongated slot 83. Adjacent the lower portion of this bracket as at 66a is pivotally mounted a bell crank lever 84 comprising one arm thereof, a supporting member 85 to which is secured by any suitable means a iioat member 75a. Angularly disposed with reference to the arm 85 the other arm 67a which carries adjacent its upper end an integral member 86 having a cam surface 88 which is concentric with the pivot 66a and an adjacent surface 89. Formed adjacent the end of the member 86 is a lug 87.

The operation of the device just described is substantially similar t'o that of the other embodiment. When the tank 10a is substantially empty of liquid, the parts will occupy the positions substantially as shown in full lilies in. Fig. 4 with the piu 60a seated against the lug 87 of the cam member 86. lt will be obvious, therefore, that reciprocation of the link 68a will serve to rock the lever 52a about its pivot formed by the pin 60a, thus reciprocating the member 47a and pumping liquid into the receptacle 10a. As the tank 10a fills with liquid, the float 75a will gradually rise, carrying the arm 84 of the bell crank lever about its pivot 66a and moving the cam member 86 in a clockwise direction in Fig. 4. The pin 60a will ride along the upper cam surface 88 of the member 86, but inasmuch as this cam surface 88 is substantially concentric with the pivot 66a as a center, the position of the pin 60a; will remain substantially unchanged and hence the pumping action of the plunger 47a will be unaffected by the movement of the float and of the cam. However, when the level of the liquid within the receptacle 10a has reached a predetermined level, the iioat member 75a will have moved the member 86 to such a point that the pin 60a will suddenly fall along the slope 89 of the member 86. The pin will then be disposed in the lower portion of the slot 8B as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, and the lever 52k will be rocked about its pivot 51a., and. continued reciprocation of the link 53a will result merely in lost motion.

It will thus be seen that the embodiment just described operates with a snap action, similar to the first embodiment. However,

the device of lizgrs.` 4 and 5 is somewhat simpler, eliminatingthe spring.

ln the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, the parts are substantially similar to the correspendingr men'ibers of the other embodimei'its except tor the means for controlling;` the pumping,` action. A receptacle 10b is provided having a cover l2?) on which is mounted a valve casing` 15b enclosing a valve supporting member similar to those described above, in which casing' is reciprocably mounted a cylindrical. cup-like member 47?). rlhis member lr-7b has a lug 506 formed adjacent the lower portion thereof to which is pivoted, as at 51?), one end of a lever 52m This lever is pivotalljv connected as at 54th to a link 535 which serves to actuate the parts in the manner described above.

Secured to the cover 12?) Within the casing' 19h is an arm or bracket G37) which is slotted as at 835, in which. slot is disposed a pin GO?) extending' laterally from the lever 52111, intermediate of its ends. Pivot-ally secured adjacent the lower portion ot the bracket G36 as at 66?) is a bell crank lever Se?) compr-itin,g` an arm 850 supporting a fioat member ngularlv disposed 'with reference te the arm is an arm 67?) having' formed adjacent the upper end thereof a member 8G?) having' a cam surface 88'() which is eccentrically curved with respect to pivot be?) as a center. Adjacent one end of the surface 88h is a lug 87D.

The operation of the device just described is substantially similar to that of the emhodiments described above, except that, inasmuch as the cam surface 88?) is not concentric with respect to the pivot 667), it will be noted that as the float member 755 rises due to the rise in the liquid level Within the receptacle l0?) and moves the arm GTZ) and member 867) to the right (Fig. (i), the pin 60?) Will gradually drop alongthe cam surface 885. The result Will be that the length of stroke ot the member 472) Will be gradually decreased and hence the amount of liquid pumped int-o the receptacle l0?) will become gradually less until, when the liquid levelWithin the recep tacle 10b has reached a predetermined level and the pin 60?) Will have attained a position on the member 88?) adjacent the left eXtremn ity thereof, as shown dotted in Fig'. 6, continued reciprocation et' the link 53?) Will result merelvin lost motion and pumping vvill be discontinued.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial moditications may be made in the same Without departing` i from the spirit of my invention; hence, l

do not Wish, to be understood lin'iiting mjvself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein described and shown, or uses mentioned.

hat I claim new and desire to secure by Letters ratent is:

l. A device of the class described, a pump comprising a block Ahaving` a pair of recesses formed therein, a. sleeve surrounding said block and recesses and cooperable With 'the block to 'form a lixed piston member, said member having an inlet passage formed therein communieatingwith one of said recesses, a cup-like member reciprocable with respect to said piston member and forniiugi' a chamber between the piston member and lsaid reciprocable member, .raid chamber communieating` with said one of the recesses, said piston member having;` an outlet passagef rined therein communicating,` with said chamber and the other of said recesses, said sleeve having an opening formed therein adjacent said other of the recesses, and a pair of check valves .mounted in said piston member and operatively related, respectively, to said passages.

2. ln a device of the class described, a receptacle provided with an inlet and an outlet, means including;i a reciprocahle member Jfor jlnnnping luid into said receptacle, means conqnrising` a pivotallj7 mounted lever for actuating said member, a float movably supported within said receptacle, and means controlled by said Heat 'for shifting the tulerum of said lever so as to render said member operative or inopcr Yve according` to the ler-el of liquid vit in said receptacle.

3. ln a device of the class described., a receptacle provided with an inlet and an outlet, means including a reciproeable member for pumpingL iluid into said receptacle, means comprisingl a pivotally mounted lever for actuating said member and having a pintle mounted thereon, a float movably supported Within said receptacle, and means having, an eccei'itrically curved surface cooperablc with said pintle to provide a fulcrum and controlled by said float tor shitting the fulcrun'i of said lever in a manner to control the etfective operation of the lever according to the level ot liquid Within said receptacle.

Ll. lin a device of the class described, a receptacle provided with. an inlet andan outlet, means includinga reciprocable member for pumping' fluid into said receptacle, means comprising a pivotally mounted lever for actuating` said member and having` a pintle mounted thereon intermediate its end portions, a float movably supported Within said receptacle, and an arm having an eccentricall v curved surface adjacent its upper end cooperablewith said pintle to provide a fulcrum for said lever and controlled by said float for shifting` the fulcrum of said lever in a manner to var v the stroke of saidreeiprocable member in pro-portion to the amount of liquid in said receptacle.

In a device of the class described, a receptacle provided with an inlet and an outlet, inca-ns Within said receptarde including,l av reciprocable member for drawing fluid througli said inlet and discharging it into said receptacle, means comprising a pivoted lever arranged in said receptacle for actuating said member, a float movably supported within said receptacle, an arm controlled by the movement of said float for shifting the fulcrum of said lever so as to render said member operative or inoperative according to the level of liquid in said receptacle, and means mounted on said arm for locating said fulcrum in operative position With respect to said lever.

6. In a device ofl the class described, a receptacle provided With an inlet and an outlet, pumping means including a reciprocable member for drawing fluid from said inlet and discharging it into said receptacle, means comprising a lever arranged in said receptacle for operating said pumping means, means movably mounted in said receptacle, and providin(T a fnlcrum for said lever, and means ior sni'fting said movable means into and ont of operative engagement with said lever according to the level of the fluid in said rereptacle.

7. In a device of the class described, a receptacle provided with an inlet and an outlet, pumping means including a reciprocable member for drawing fluid from said inlet and discharging it into said receptacle, means r-,on'iprising a lever arranged in said receptacle and pivotally connected to said reciprocable member for operating said pumping means, means. pivotally mounted in said receptacle and providing a ulcrum for said lever, and means for shifting .said pivotally mounted means into and out of operative relationship with respect to said lever according to the level of liquid in said receptacle.

8. In a device of the class described, a receptacle provided with an inlet and an outlet, means including a reciprocable member for pumping fluid into said receptacle, means comprising a lever disposed in .said receptacle for actuating said member, a pintle mounted on said lever intermediate its ends, a float supported Within said receptacle, movable fulcrum means mounted in said receptacle and engageable With said pintle, and means operatively related to said float and said fulcrum means for .shifting the fulcrum in a manner to render said reciprocable mem- CII ber operative or inoperative according to the level oi? fluid in said receptacle.

9. In a device of the class described, a receptacle provided with an inlet and an outlet, means including a reciprocable member for pumping fluid into said receptacle, means comprising a lever disposed in said receptacle for actuating said member, a pintle mounted on said lever intermediate its ends, a float supported Within said receptacle, and a float controlled fulcrum member for said lever engageable with said pintle, said iioat acting to shift said fulcrum member according to the level or" liquid in said receptacle in a manner to render said reciprocable member-operative or inoperative according to the position of said fulcrum member.

l0. In a device of the class described, a receptacle provided with an inlet and an outlet, means including a reciprocable member i'or pumping fluid into said receptacle, means comprising a lever disposed in s'aid receptcle for actuating said member, a pintle mounted on said lever intermediate its ends, a float supported Within said receptacle, a lulc-rum member pivoted Within said recep` tacle and movable into and out of engagement With said pintle, and means controlled by the action of said float according to the level of liquid in said receptacle for .shifting said fulcrum member in a manner to r-ender said lever eil'ective or ineffective to actuate said reciprocable member.

ll. In a device of the class described, a receptacle provided With an inlet and an outlet, means including a reciprocable member for pumping fluid into said receptacle, means comprising a lever pivotally connected to said member for actuating the member, a pintle mounted on said lever intermediate its ends, a float mounted in said receptacle, and a float actuated arm mounted in .said receptacle and movable into and out of engagement with said pintle, said arm cooperating With said pintle in a manner to provide a fulcrum for said lever when sai-d reciprocable member is being operated, and the pivotal connection of said lever with said reciprocable member acting as a fulcrum for said lever when said arm is moved out of engagement With said pintle by the action of said float.

l2. A device of the class described, a recep tacle provided with an inlet and an outlet, means including a reciprocable member for pumping fluid into said receptacle, means comprising a lever disposed in said receptacle for actuating said member, a pintle mounted on said lever intermediate its ends, a iioat Within said receptacle, an arm pivoted within said receptacle and movable into engagement with said pintle for providing a fulcrum for sai-d lever to render said member operative, and movable out of engagement with the pintle to render said member inoperative, and resilient means operatively related to said fioat and arm for shifting said arm into and out of engagement with said pintle according to the level of liquid in said receptacle.

13. A device of the class described, a receptacle provided With an inlet and an outlet, means including a reciprocable membei` for pumping fluid into said receptacle, means comprising a lever disposed in said receptacle for actuating` said member, a pintle mounted on said lever intermediate its ends, a float supported Within said receptacle, a fulcrum member pivoted Within said receptacle and movable into engagement with said pintle for providing a ulerum for said lever to render said member operative, and movable ont of engagement with the pintle to render the member inoperative, a bell crank lever' pivoted eoaxially With said fulcrum member and carrying Said float on one arm thereof, and at resilient member Connected to the other arm of said bell crank lever and to said fulerum member for moving the lf'ulcrum member about said pvot in a reverse direction 'from the movement of said bell crank lever.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 24th day of August A. D., 1929.

ANDREV C. WOOD. 

